Gas Tax Hike Passes First Vote in Senate

by K2 News Desk, info@k2tv.com

Wyoming drivers are one step closer to paying to paying an extra dime a gallon in gas taxes starting this summer. On Tuesday, the Senate gave initial approval to a bill that would raise the state's gas tax by 10-cents a gallom.

Two more votes are needed, before the plan would go to the governor.

The bill would increase the state tax from 14 to 24 cents a gallon on both gasoline and diesel fuel. It's estimated it would bring in about $70 million to fund highway and road construction and improvements.

Governor Mead is one of the bill's backers, saying that WYDOT needs a stable source of funding to maintain existing roads and plan future projects.

Opponents say the agency needs to be more efficient with the money it already has, and that working families cannot afford the higher taxes. The bill has already passed the house, and would go into effect on July 1st.